Artificial-surf bathing pool



.July 31, 1926 1,679,156

` 'w. FlscH ARTIFICIAL SURF .B61111116 P001J Filed Nov. 22. 1926 v sheets-$11661 1 William/Fisch July 3l, 1928.

w. FlscH 'ARTIFxcIAL spnp ATnrG Pooh Filed Nov. 22, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet,A

@nemesi Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED siAr s .PArENrpor rif-er.. R

WILLIAM risen, or A'rLnfNrA, GEORGIA.

ARTIFICIALSURE BA'IHING POOL. i

AApplication fledNovember 22, 1926. i Serial No. 150,108.

My invention relates to bathing pools or swimming tanks, provided with means for artificially producing the effect of surf tov make the bathing g more attractive and enoyable. l

`My invention contemplates the provision of a movable bathing pool or tank-:so de-a motion from side to side with'pool lwalls designed to convert the rush voffwater towards them into a breaking wave,'thus`fgiv ing the effect of surf to the bathers.

My invention further contemplates the Vprovision of a bathing pool yadapted tovroek on curved supports,struck on a very large radius curve, sothata limited vertical displacement of its ends will cause anelongated i zone throughout which 'the fulcrum of the pool will shift as it rocks, which enables me to utilize the shift ofthe fulcrum point toV assist in counterba-lancing the vrush of water towa-rds the lowered endof thetank 4since the fulcrum shiftstowa-rds the lowered end and thereby increase-both the weight at and the leverage effect of the mass of tank and water at the higher end of the tank. This makes easier the production and control of the rocking motionsof the tank.

My invention also contemplates a newfandr rIn the ypreferable arrangement, the ztankfis improved manner of introducing fresh or treated water backinto the tank,such waterl being introduced along with and adapted to supplement the surf effect at `the lowered end ofthe tank. v i

My invention further contemplates. the utilization of the inertia of the moving tank itself to force 4theifresh or lreturn water back through the jetl sprays at the lowered end of the tank. v

My Vinvent-ion further contemplates the provision of novel and effective means,l

which are simple in their nature and readily controlled, for the stopping, starting and control of the rocking'motions, of the tank, such means preferably employing a compressible fluid pressure meansso that it may be 'utilized with cushioning effect in stopping the tan-k or checking itsrocking motions.

My invention further contemplates the mounting of the tank upon rockers, adapted.

my;l present invention f is directed towards a loathijngpooloritank` of water adapted to have a limited rocking one end lowered soas to crete.

to serve as longitudinal trussesffor vthe tank and the provision of tracks upon which said trusses will rock, preferably in combination with means to prevent the tank creeping. I propose a ,toothed engagement between one ormore of the rockers and itsarespective track as a suitable means to prevent creeplng. V5

. invention further comprises the novel details of construction land arrangements of parts, which in their preferred embodiment yonly are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form apart .of this speciv:licatiom and in which if 5 Fig. 1V represents a longitudinal vert-ical Vsection throughthe tank taken on the line,

.I-I of Fig. 3.

Fi-g.,2 yis an-outline View corresponding to Fig. l showing thetank in: operation with l produce the wave effect and the spray;

Fig. 3 is a plan View ofthe tank.

Fig. 4t is a lcross-section taken `on the line IV--IV of Fig. 3; and

Fig.v `51 is adetail of the compressed air cylinder control mechanism with a diagramvmatic layout of a three-way air control valve.

uln the embodiment of my invention illustrated, in .whichcorresponding parts vbear similar .reference numerals, l show a bathing pool or tank having sidewalls l0, which slope from its center upwardly towards its curved end walls 11., which latter walls merge into a substantially flat bottom 12` that can be braced inv any desired manner.

supported upon longitudinal rocker trusses.

'plhese trusses may be built up of any suitable standard .shapes,'those, shown compris curved T-barl, the said latter bar being Vstruck on such `a curve as willproduce the desired shift of fulcrum, and relative vertical displacement between the ends, of the tank as it rocks. It will be understood that the tank maybel caused to rock more` or `less Aaccording to its length and depth and the desired amount of surf'efl'ect to be produced.

.The rocker trusses, in orderI to reduce friction, are preferably arranged to ride Vupon suitablefoundations 18, preferably of con rPhe tracks 16 are of channel shape to hold the rockers in line. `As the preferred means for preventing the tax'ikxcreeping l. tracks 16 and 17 which are supported upon lengthwise on its track supports 17 are provided with rack teeth 19 and the rocker truss that rests thereon can be provided with corresponding teeth 20. This is merely the preferred means for preventing the tank shifting bodily along its track supports as the toothed engagement will bring back always to the center of its supports when at rest in balanced condition.

Y sure-isdelivered to the'lower end ot each of the cylinders at each end by an air pipe 26,

` which `pipes connect to a common pipe 27 leading from a suitable source of compressed air, such as the tank 28, the cylinders at each end of the tank being connected in multiple to their respective air line 26, and the delivery o air pressure to said lines being con trolled by a. three-way control valve 29 adapted to admit pressure to the cylinders at one end of the tank when exhausting pressure from the cylinders at the other end of the tank. This valve may be set by hand control of its operating lever 30 to hold pressure in the cylinders at all ends so as tol hold the tank balanced in the center or the air can` be controlled to bring the tank to rest at either end of its rockingmotion or in the center, and to start it up from whatever` position of rest it may have been last stopped in. Also this three-way valve handle is adapted to rock into position for a slot 31 therein to engage a pin 32 onvthe side of the tank so that the motion of the tank will automatically control the operation of the air motors Vat its ends so as to keep it rocking. Also the valve action may be timed to use the cylinders Jfor a dash-potting function in arresting the rocking motion of the tank. The tank can, it desired, be cross braced by the I-beams 55 connected to truss rockers and arranged to support the tank bottom.

I contemplate providing `near the 'centerof one side of the tank, an overflow pipe 33 having a connection near the mean water level of the tank, and also having a connection 34 at the bottom level of the tank with a control valve 35 that is normally closed, the latter connection being used for emptying the tank. The pipe 33 is connected by a liexible hose 36 to a main 37 leading to a suitable water treatment apparatus (not shown), for its purification, or to the waste, and this pipe may be used for refilling the tank vfrom thel treatment apparatus or from Athe city water mains.

At either end of the tank desired I provide a special cleanout port 38 having a valve 39 which is intended to be opened when the tank is tilted in that direction so that the bottom may be flushed and cleaned out and all dirt and sediment discharged therethrough will enter a sump 40 and flow oi to a suitable waste or to sewage connections. As the preferred operating mechanism Jor 'Y In order to supplement the wave action produced by the surge of water against the curved lends 11 of the tank and also to assist in stopping` or dash-potting the rocking motions of the tank, I provide'at each end a reservoir, water-tight chamber or cylinder 41 having'` a connection through a pipe 42 past an outwardly closing check valve 43 to a supply main 44 leading from the fresh or treated water supply. A plunger 45 is provided for each of these chambers or cylinders which has its lpiston 46 iiexibly connected by a link 47 to the block 25 at the end of the adjacent overhead rocker truss.

'The cylinder at itstop is provided with a relief port 48 and at its bottom is provided wi th a discharge pipe 49-having an outwardly opening check valve 50 and connected by a. flexible hose 51 to apipe 52 connected to the adjacent end of the tank and discharging into a transfer spray pipe 53 mounted at or near the top edge of the adjacent end 11 ot the tank and having its jet or spray ports 54 so disposed as to throw a spray over the surf wave when `formed at its respective end of the tank. `These pipes 53 preferably extend the width of the tank. The air cylinders are likewise provided with top ports 48 to prevent the trapping of air above them.

In theoperation of the device described, assuming the tank in balanced position as shown in Fig. 1, byidisengaging the valve lever 30 from the pin 32 and throwing it first to one side and thento the other, the air pressure can be thrown to the air .motors 21 at the ends of the tank so as to build up the rocking motion of the tank, whereupon the lever can beengaged with the pin 30 and the tank will continue its rocking motion, open ing the air cylinders to the pressure supply at the end of the tank as it 'falls below mean level position, thus' putting the pressure in these cylinders to assist in checking the rocking motion of the tank and at the same time accomplishing this without a rebound due to the fact that the pressure trapped under the lowering pistons as forced down by the tank passes back into the pressure supply tank 28. Vhen the downward motion of one end of a tank stops, immediately the tank pressure acts on the pistons at that end of the tank to lift it and until the tank reaches a level position the pistons at the other end of the tank will move down freely, due to the fact thatA their cylinders are exhausting to the atmosphere. .After the tank @iger/9,1156

rocksvk past center yposition -`the valves are lfclosed on. Ythe last lmentionedcylinders land rush against the curved end wall ll and arch Vtheir Vcushioning function' commences. To

in either tilted or level position. As the ltank rocks there will be a displacement of the mass of water therein as' indicated in Fig.' 2, andjsuch mass, traveling along the substantially flat bottom of the tank, will `over intoone or more breaking waves,

simulating surf as indicated in Fig. Q. The back rush of water at times provides preliminary wave ahead ofthe main wave at the tank end. At the same time asthe tank end lowersto produce the surtwave, the' into the tank in the form of a spray or multiplicity of fine jets which accentuate or blend in with, the waveeiect.

of the tank and is vthoroughly aerated and the surplus water is drawn out through' the overflow pipe 33 at the center ot the tank. It .will `be obviousthat all sediment and floating matter will tend to collect at the center of the tank and thus pass off Ireadily with the overflow.

It is to be noted that as the tank rocks, its fulcrum point shifts and approaches the lowered end of the tank. This results in maintaining the tank at `all times substantially balanced except for the rush of water and I thus avoid excessive dutyl on the mechanism for effecting, and for controlling the rocking motions of the tank. The eX- tent to whichthe fulcrum point is displaced will depend on the curvature of the rocker trusses and this can be designed so that as the tank rocks with a slow motion, the weight of the tank and mass ofy water thereon on the higher side of the tank will at all times substantially counter-balance the lower side of the tank with the mass of water thereon, leaving a slight overbalancing on this latter side, due to the rush of water provided to create the wave.

It is to be understood that the mechanisms disclosed for actuating and controlling the tank are suggestive of suitable means'to attain the ends in view and'may be widely varied without depart-ing from my presentv invention, which is concerned essentially with the production of a novel type of amusement apparatus wherein a bathing pool'of commercial size can be actuated and controlled to produce artificially the effect of surf. Y y

The replace?l Vment water is thus sprayed in at they yendsv '-1 Wit-hout therefore yintendii'ig to limit inyself l to fthe Hspecitically .structural v-details shown, whatl claim, is:- l

l. Ay bathing vpoollcomprising an elonrock-ei's Ldisposed beneathl the tank, power means `to `imparta rocking motion to the tank to displace water therein', means to convert the rush ot displaced waterwinto a breaking wave, and .means to control thefmovement oitthe tank.

2. A bathing pool of the character scribed in claiml 3, inwhich the-tank is mounted oir longitudinally vextending truss rockers having tracks,and means to prevent fthe creeping ot the tank on the tracks. f. f

bathing pool -oit lthecharacter -de-y scribed, comprising an elongated ysubstantially Hat bottointank, rocker trusses.sup#V porting the tank and'extending substantially` from endl to endk thereof beneath the tank, and-actuating and control agencies flexibly connected to the tank near an end thereof, the ends of ythe tank'-being'concave for-the purpose of convertingtherush of displaced" water into a wave effect. i

4t. A bathing pool according to claimc, in which the actuating and control agencies are connected to bothcnds of thetanlcs 5. yA bathing pool according to claim'3 ,"in

gated' tank, `longitudinally .extending truss deV manual means for controlling they tank when the automatic control means is disengaged.

scribed, comprising a substantially flat bottom tank having marginal walls lwhich overhang the bottom on a curve, power means to tilt the tank to produce a rush of water against said curved walls, and automatic means to control the movement of the tank.

9. A bathing pool oi. the character de-V scribed, comprising al substantially flat bot-V tom tank having curved end vwalls which overhang the bottom, means to tilt the tank to produce a rush of water towards said end walls, and means to dash-pot the tilting motions of the tank.

10. A bathing pool ott the character de-A scribed, comprising a tiltable tank mounted on arcuate rockers, flat tracks fory the rockers, means to prevent creeping of Vthe tank on the tracks and fluid pressure actuating means iexiblyrconnected to, the end oit the tank for actuating and controlling it.

11. A bathing pool according to claim 10,

8, A bathingpool of the character de in which the Huid pressure actuating means comprises a plurality of compressed air motors having a common control.

,12. A bathing pool according to claim 10, in which the fluid pressure actuating means areJ connected to both ends ot the tank and comprise compressed air motors having a common control for the motors at each end of the tank. A

13. A bathing pool according to claim 10, in which the actuating means comprises a plurality of compressed air motors connected to both ends of the tank and having a common three-way valve control for all motors.

14. A bathing pool ot the character described, comprising a tank mounted to rock and having curved end walls, a spray pipe adjacentl to the top of each curved wall, and means utilizing the .rocking motion of the vtank to discharge a spray of water through the spray pipe tank.

15. A bathing pool of the character described, comprising a tank mounted to rock atV the lowered end of the and having curved end walls, a spray pipe adjacent to the tops otsaid curved walls,

Vand means utilizing the rocking motion of the tank to discharge a spray of water through the spray pipe at the lowered end ot the tank, said means comprising watercylinders having a check valve controlled inlet and outlet, with the outlet connected to the spray pipe and the inlet to a source of replacement water supply.

introduce replacement water at itsends, and

means to draw ofi' by overiiow the surplus Y water at or near its middle portion.

17. A bathing pool of the character described, kcomprising an elongated substantially iat bottom tank, longitudinal truss supports for the'tank having curved bot toms, curved end walls tor the tank, a support for the trusses uponwhich they are adapted to rock with a shifting fulcrum point, and power means flexibly connected to the tank to actuate and control it.

18. A bathing pool o'f the character described, comprising a tank, means to move the tank to produce a displacement of the waterv therein, and meansk responsive to the movement of the tank to produce a marginal water spray, in which spray means is adapted to act at the lowered edge of the tank and to deliver the spray above the surge of water at said lowered portion of the tank.

19. A` bathing pool of the character described, comprising a tank movable to raise and lower a marginal edge thereof, and a shower for introducing replacement water in the tank having a controlling valve movable responsive to the lowering of the adjacent tank edge.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

WLLIAM FISCH. 

